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The Gym fit tip - Eat your greens

HEALTH:

Dark green leafy vegetables are highly nutritious, providing a wide variety of important essential vitamins and minerals (such as folic acid, potassium, magnesium, iron and calcium) plus a source of carotenoids and anti-oxidants (including vitamins A, C and E). However, despite their nutritional advantages they are one of the most under-consumed foods in the average person's diet.

EXERCISE:

Spinach has long been known as the food that gave Popeye his bulging muscles. And it seems he had the right idea; research has indicated that eating 200-300g of green leafy vegetables can make your muscles more efficient, reducing the amount of oxygen needed to power muscles during exercise by as much as 5%. This results in both improved muscle gains and better overall health. So follow Popeye’s example for an improved workout!

NUTRITION:

Try some of these suggestions to increase your intake of leafy greens:

Wrap it up: Try preparing a tortilla wrap with chicken or turkey and adding romaine leafy greens for some extra nutrients and flavour

Wilt It: Wilted green leafy vegetables will reduce in size, thus providing the same nutritious goodness in a more manageable form. Try lightly steaming spinach over a pan of water then mixing with crushed garlic and stirring in to hot pasta.

Curried: Spinach is an old favourite in curry houses. Make your own Sag Aloo by mixing shredded spinach with chopped new potatoes.